This article was co-authored by Kelly Medford. Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.

Whether you're a sculptor, a painter, a dancer, an actor, a writer, or a musician, making a living doing the work you love can be a challenge. To get started, make sure you are well represented online and in the artist community where you live. Make time for your work by working part time and applying for residencies and grants. Consider getting a job that involves your talents, such as teaching. Don't give up, but do take care of yourself along the way.

Represent yourself online. To attract an agent or other clients, make a website and build a social media presence. You need to be easily located and well represented online.[1]XResearch source Make a professional-looking website that showcases your work. Your website should include examples of your work, your artist CV, and a list of events (gallery shows, performances, etc) that you have participated in.

If you are a performer, include headshots.

If you are a visual artist, you should have online portfolios of your work.

Consider getting a Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook page, or other form of social media. Post examples of your work and updates on your progress. This can be a great way to connect with other artists, as well as with talent agents.

Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.

EXPERT ADVICE

Kelly Medford, a plein air painter, responded: “Utilize social media and try writing a blog and newsletter. Also, connect with people who buy paintings and make a real relationship with them. Being a real person helps a lot because people like knowing the artist they’re buying work from. Take everything slowly, one step at a time and invent ways to connect and communicate with people about your work.”

Seek representation. Whether you are a musician, a writer, an actor, or a painter, you can benefit from the help of a professional who represents talent. Read your contract carefully, however, especially if you are a musician. You should retain the rights to your own work.

[Get a Talent Agent|Get an agent]. Look up agents who represent other artists you admire and ask for an interview. If you get an interview, ask how many clients they represent-avoid agents who are overbooked.

Get a gallery to represent you. Visit galleries and talk to the curators. If you like the art they show, they might like your art. Galleries will show your work in exchange for a cut of the profits.

[Get Signed by a Record Label|Get signed by a label]. Send a demo to record labels you like. Consider getting a manager to facilitate this process.

Exhibit your work yourself. If you are a visual artist, exhibit your work at art fairs. In some cases you may already need gallery representation to do this, but in others you can show and sell your work for an entry fee. If you are a performer, put on amateur shows and invite friends and other artists to watch.

If you are a writer, connect with local reading series and ask to be included in a lineup.

If you are a musician, send demos to local music venues and ask them to book you for a show.

Work with other artists. Collaboration is a great way to become known in your community, which can open up doors for you over time. Consider forming or joining an artist's collective, making collaborative work with other artists, putting on a show with a group of artists you admire, or otherwise working to promote (and become known to) your peers.

Open an online store. If you produce saleable wares, sell them yourself! Consider selling on Etsy or another free online marketplace. You can also sell your art on your website, but until your name is really out there you might be difficult to locate.

Sell your work at fairs. If your artwork is small and saleable (jewelry, pottery, clothing), you can sell it at arts and craft fairs. Just book a table, set up an attractive display, and set prices on everything.

Master an art that you can be hired to do. If you are studying art and are not sure how you'll make a living, consider honing an art that has commercial applications outside of the fine art world, such as design, photography, or animation.

Write for others. If you are a writer, consider directing some of your talents to commercial ends. Writers are valuable to companies looking for grant writers, proofreaders, copywriters, affiliate bloggers, and editors.[2]XResearch source

Teach what you love. Many artists support themselves in part by teaching their art. Consider tutoring, working at an after-school or summer program for children, or becoming a full time teacher of dance, visual art, or acting.

If you have a graduate degree, consider working as an adjunct at local colleges.

Get a part-time job. While you try to land a book deal, or sell your paintings, get a part-time job. Working part-time will allow you to dedicate time and energy to your art. Try for a service job or a job with flexible hours, such as online content editing for a website.

Apply for grants. There are many grants available for up and coming artists. If you look up "grants for artists" or "emerging artists," you'll find many options. Besides national grants, check out foundations in your area that support local artists.

Apply for residencies. Residencies offer you a space to live (and a studio, if you need one). The good ones cover travel expenses as well as food and offer a stipend. Doing frequent residencies is not a sustainable way to make a living, but it can be a temporary boon. Search for "artist residencies," or check out http://www.resartis.org/en/residencies/list_of_residencies/

Get a funded MFA or PhD. If you are interested in teaching, or if you just want to spend 3-6 years working on your art, taking classes, and not worrying about money, apply for a fully funded graduate program. As these programs tend to be competitive, apply to several.[3]XResearch source

If you are applying somewhere and can't tell whether or not a program is fully funded, don't be embarrassed about calling the department in which it is housed and querying.

Some programs are not fully funded for all students, but do offer fellowships to some.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Kelly Medford. Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.